U.S. patent number 5,026,362 [Application Number 07/531,770] was granted by the patent office on 1991-06-25 for ostomy bag holder and cover.
Invention is credited to Elsie M. Willett.
United States Patent |
5,026,362 |
Willett |
June 25, 1991 |
Ostomy bag holder and cover
Abstract
An ostomy bag holder and cover of lightweight fabric material,
comprises a waist encircling belt adapted to be adjustably secured
about the waist of the user, and a pouch secured to the belt for
holding and covering an ostomy bag, said pouch comprising a back
panel having a cut-out therein for providing access from an ostomy
bag to a stoma, and a front panel having releasable fastening means
thereon for releasably attaching the front panel to the belt for
covering an ostomy bag supported in the pouch. The front and back
panels define a pocket at their lower ends for supporting the
ostomy bag.
Inventors: |
Willett; Elsie M. (Abilene,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
26943308 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/531,770 |
Filed: |
June 1, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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253485 |
Oct 5, 1988 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/345; 604/332;
D24/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/449 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/449 (20060101); A61F 5/445 (20060101); A61F
005/44 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/327,328,331-345
;224/226,224 ;383/7 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2722445 |
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Nov 1978 |
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DE |
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0620541 |
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Nov 1959 |
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IT |
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0799986 |
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Aug 1958 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Yasko; John D.
Assistant Examiner: Gatowski; A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kimmel, Crowell & Weaver
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 253,485, filed Oct.
5, 1988, which is now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A self-belted ostomy bag holder and cover of lightweight fabric
material for an ostomy patient for holding and covering an ostomy
appliance without attachment thereto, consisting essentially of a
inseparably connected unit of a belt or loop and a pouch
unconnected to the user's stoma,
the belt or loop having adjustably securing and quick release means
thereon for securing and releasing the belt or loop around the
waist of the user, and
the pouch inseparably connected to and suspended from the belt or
loop for covering an ostomy bag to which it is sized, said pouch
including a back panel attached at an upper end to the belt or loop
and being a part thereof, and bifurcated at its upper end to form a
pair of spaced-apart arms defining a cutout therein sized to
receive the ostomy bag and provide lateral access to a passage
formed on the skin of the user, said arms joined at their upper
ends to the belt and a front panel jointed at a lower end portion
thereof to a lower portion of the back panel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to ostomy bags, and more
particularly, to a cover and support for an ostomy bag.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Because of disease or other pathological conditions, or due to
inflammation or surgery, portions or all of a person's intestines
are sometimes rendered temporarily or permanently inoperative. In
these instances, a surgical procedure known as an ostomy is
performed, in which a passageway or stoma is made through the
stomach wall and skin, typically through the abdominal wall. A
portion of the intestine is re-routed and surgically connected to
the stoma such that waste material can exit the body.
As used herein, "ostomy" is intended to cover all types of surgical
procedures wherein a passageway is formed through the skin and a
portion of the intestine is connected thereto. If the large
intestine or colon is connected to the passageway, the procedure is
known as a "colostomy". When the small intestine is involved, the
procedure is known as an "ileostomy". Both of these procedures
require use of an ostomy bag which is worn on the body of the user
and is in communication with the stoma to collect waste emitted by
the body. A wide variety of ostomy bags and supports therefor have
been devised in the prior art.
One type of ostomy bag in widespread use is formed of a plastic
material and has an aperture located on one side for attachment to
the stoma. The bag may be supported on the skin of the user and
made removable so that it can be emptied when necessary. These bags
are generally transparent, thus rendering the contents visible.
Furthermore, the plastic material tends to stick to the skin of the
user, making it uncomfortable to use.
Covers have been designed to enclose or at least partially enclose
the ostomy bag, thereby obscuring the contents and providing a
buffer between the plastic material of the bag and the skin of the
user. Some of these covers simply fold over portions of the user's
clothing, or utilize various straps and attachments for supporting
them on the body of the user. Others are relatively difficult to
manipulate, requiring considerable effort to remove and replace the
ostomy bag. Still others are cumbersome and uncomfortable to wear,
and/or are expensive to make, leading to increased cost to the
user.
Examples of some prior art ostomy bag holders are shown in the
following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 2,688,327, 3,897,785, 4,173,979,
4,387,726, 4,439,191, 4,495,662, 4,511,358, 4,519,797 and
4,705,512.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an ostomy bag holder and
cover which not only supports the ostomy bag and covers it, but
which is also relatively inexpensive and easy to use and which
overcomes the other problems noted above with respect to prior art
ostomy bag covers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an ostomy
bag cover and support which is simple and lightweight in
construction and which is comfortable to wear.
Another object is to provide an ostomy bag cover and support which
is easy to use and which is readily adjustable to fit different
size persons.
A further object of the invention is to provide an ostomy bag cover
and support which has quick release attachments for securing the
cover to the body of the user and for releasably supporting the
ostomy bag.
These objects of the invention are accomplished by the ostomy bag
cover and support of the invention, wherein a waist-encircling loop
or belt has velcro fasteners or similar quick release fasteners at
opposite ends thereof for adjustably securing the belt around the
waist of the user. A pouch or cover is attached to the belt for
holding and covering an ostomy bag and includes a rear panel having
one end stitched or otherwise suitably joined to the belt, and a
front panel having a lower end portion stitched or otherwise
suitably joined to a lower end portion of the rear panel for
forming a shallow pocket. The other end of the front panel has
quick release fasteners such as velcro patches or the like for
releasable attachment to similar means on the belt, whereby the
front panel may be quickly and easily attached to and removed from
the belt to define a sling for holding the ostomy bag. A cut-out in
the rear panel provides access of the ostomy bag to the stoma.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description and
claims when considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts
throughout the several views, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of the ostomy bag
cover and support of the invention shown in operative position on
the body of a user;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ostomy bag cover and support of
the invention, with portions in opened relationship; and
FIG. 3 is a side or edge view of the ostomy bag cover and support
of the invention, showing the pocket at the bottom of the
cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring more particularly to the drawings, the ostomy bag cover
and holder of the invention is represented generally at 10 in FIGS.
1-3, and comprises a belt or loop 11 of lightweight fabric material
and having velcro fasteners 12 and 13 on the inside and outside
surfaces thereof, respectively, at its opposite ends for adjustably
securing the belt about the body of a user as shown somewhat
schematically in FIG. 1. The velcro patches are preferably
relatively elongate so that the belt will fit about the body of a
range of different size persons.
A pouch 15 of lightweight fabric material is secured to the belt
and comprises a back panel 16 bifurcated at its upper end to define
a pair of spaced arms 17 and 18 defining a cut-out 19 therebetween
for providing access of the ostomy bag to the stoma (neither shown
herein), and a front panel 20. The upper ends of the arms 17 and 18
are stitched or otherwise suitably joined to the belt.
The front and back panels are joined along their lower ends and for
a short distance upwardly along adjoining sides, at 21, 22 and 23,
to define a pocket 24 in the lower end portion of the pouch. The
front panel has a pair of velcro fasteners 25 and 26 on the upper
inside corners thereof, for attachment to complemental fasteners 27
and 28 on the outer facing surface of the belt. As seen in FIG. 2,
the upper end portion of the front panel is reinforced as at
29.
The fabric material of which the ostomy bag holder and cover of the
invention is made is preferably cotton or a cotton blend, but other
materials may be used as desired. Moreover, in the specific form of
the invention shown and described herein, all exposed edges of the
material, including the front and back panels, are hemmed, and the
belt comprises a length of material folded over upon itself and
stitched along one edge. The upper ends of the arms 17 and 18 are
stitched between these folds.
In use, an ostomy bag is placed in the pocket 24 and the belt
secured about the waist of the user. The bag is then attached to
the stoma through the cut-out 19 and the front panel is secured in
its up position by engaging the fasteners 25-28. When it is desired
to examine or remove the bag, the front panel is folded downwardly,
as shown in FIG. 2. It is not necessary to remove the entire holder
and belt. The lightweight fabric material is absorbent, breathes,
and is comfortable to wear, eliminating irritation to the skin of
the patient as might be caused by contact with the ostomy bag
itself, and is easy to use.
Although the invention has been described with reference to a
particular embodiment, it is to be understood that this embodiment
is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the
invention. Numerous modifications may be made therein and other
arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *